Video game thief attacked security guard at supermarket

In the first instance the 18-year-old and another person walked into the store and piled games worth £1600 into shopping baskets before making off without paying on November 4.

Two days later the pair were back - this time taking £739 worth of gear.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court heard that after running off with the goods he was spotted by a security guard who gave chased after him.

The court heard that two workers saw him running off and cut him off by going out of the shop’s fire exit.

An accomplice with Tabone ran off and as Tabone was running away he tripped in shrubbery and the employees manage to catch up with him.

Tabone then hit one of the security guards and continued to subject them to abuse and violence, the court was told.

The court heard the employee sustained bruising and swelling to his face.

For this offence, Tabone was originally sentenced to a community order.

But after he failed to engage with any of the requirements within that, including rehabilitation activity requirement days and a curfew, a warrant for his arrest was issued when he failed to go to a court hearing about his attendance.

The teen was picked up when he was found in possession of cannabis at his girlfriend’s house.

Mitigating, Michael Mcgoldrick told the court that Tabone had failed to adhere to the curfew as he was forced to leave the address it was registered to due to family problems.

He added that Tabone was now realising “the seriousness of not attending sessions” and of appearing in the adult courts.

Tabone, of Tunstall Road, Southampton, was sentenced to 15 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, with a requirement to carry out 80 hours unpaid work after admitting breach of the community order. He was also ordered to pay £80 costs.